22 | 23 SEASON
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22 | 23 SEASON
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DEBUTS & PREMIERES The 2022–23 Organ Series will feature some of the most thrilling music written for the King of Instruments. After an opening concert where I will perform Franck’s monumental Grand Pièce Symphonique in honor of his bicentennial, our audience will get the opportunity to hear the MSO Organ Series debuts of two of the world’s finest organists. To close the series, cellist Thomas Mesa and I will collaborate once again
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to perform the world premiere of a brand new Organ and Cello Sonata written for the two of us by composer Daniel Ficarri, and commissioned by the Madison Symphony Orchestra. You won’t want to miss this exciting new season that will showcase our Mighty Klais with artists and music that will inspire and awe!
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Greg Zelek,
Principal Organist and Elaine and Nicholas Mischler Curator of the Overture Concert Organ
Love great music. Find it here.
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SEPTEMBER
Zelek was physically animated throughout the performance. His hands
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flew across three levels of keyboards while his feet worked the pedalboard like somebody playing Dance Dance Revolution in an arcade. — Howard Hardee, Wisconsin State Journal
greg zelek In honor of Franck’s 200th birthday, I open the season with his masterpiece, Grand Pièce Symphonique, which is just as grand as its title would suggest. Join me on this incredible journey as we get to know this magnificent work from one of the greatest organ composers of all time. The program will also include the U.S. premiere of a new, personally-dedicated work by German composer Paul Fey, as well as many selections from my first organ CD recorded in Overture Hall that will be released in the Fall of 2022. — Greg Zelek Greg Zelek, Organ MAJOR SPONSORS Audrey Dybdahl, in memory of Philip Dybdahl Friends of the Overture Concert Organ
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PROGRAM Paul Fey, Toccata Claude Debussy, Clair de Lune J.S. Bach, Gigue Fugue and “Little” Fugue in G minor John Weaver, Fantasia Florence Price, Adoration César Franck, Grand Pièce Symphonique
Greg is a genius on the organ! I could listen to him all day. I have invited several family members to attend concerts with me and we are all awed by Greg’s abilities! He is amazing! — MSO patron madisonsymphony.org/zelek
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OCTOBER
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smith Organ phenom who has already been called one of the brightest stars in the new generation of American organists . . . rising star of the organ world who already has his own fan club. — Janelle Gelfand, Cincinnati Enquirer
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christopher houlihan Known for his dazzling and imaginative playing, Christopher Houlihan will make his debut at Overture Hall performing Liszt’s towering Fantasy and Fugue on “Ad nos, ad salutarem undam.” Mr. Houlihan will demonstrate his incredible musicianship and artistry in this tour de force. Mr. Houlihan will also perform a work that includes a narrated “tour” of the organ, with variations based on an American folk tune, and I will have the pleasure of narrating as the organ is explored. — Greg Zelek Christopher Houlihan, Organ MAJOR SPONSORS Gerald and Shirley Spade Walter and Karen Pridham Charitable Fund
PROGRAM J.S. Bach, Prelude and Fugue in A minor Robert Edward Smith, An Introduction to the King of Instruments: Variations on an American Folk Tune Franz Liszt, Fantasy and Fugue on “Ad nos, ad salutarem undam”
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In Mr. Houlihan’s hands, the organ delivered plenty of firepower and juicy, well-blended chords, like a homogeneous string section in a fine symphony orchestra. — Barbara Jepson, Wall Street Journal
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madisonsymphony.org/houlihan
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Chriss won the 2017 Canadian International Organ Competition, but this is not the usual competition-winner playing. He plays with clarity, imagination, musicality, virtuosity, and yes, personality. — Delcamp, American Record Guide
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alcée chriss First-Prize Winner of many international organ competitions, organ virtuoso Alcée Chriss will delight our audience with a program that includes a few of his own transcriptions. Come experience Mr. Chriss’ arrangements of movements of Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances and Franck’s Symphony in D minor. Mr. Chriss will also showcase his versatility as both a classical and jazz performer, with his own arrangement of Bill Evans’ Waltz for Debby, among others. — Greg Zelek Alcée Chriss, Organ MAJOR SPONSOR Skofronick Family Charitable Trust ADDITIONAL SPONSOR Elaine and Nicholas Mischler
PROGRAM J.S. Bach (arr. Chriss), Sinfonia from Ich liebe den Höchsten von ganzem Gemüte Sergei Rachmaninoff (arr. Chriss), Symphonic Dances, Op. 45: I. Non-Allegro Bill Evans, Waltz for Debby Alexandre Boëly, Fantasy and Fugue in Bb major Antônio Carlos Jobim, Desafinado César Franck (arr. Chriss), Symphony in D Minor, M. 48: II. Allegretto Max Reger, Fugue on B-A-C-H, op. 46
madisonsymphony.org/chriss
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APRIL
18 TUE. 7:30 PM
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Mr. Mesa’s playing had a musical intensity that was commanding in every detail. — New York Concert Review
The audience enjoyed so much Mesa’s performance of the first movement that they felt compelled to applaud directly afterward, unable to contain their excitement until the final movement. — Matt Ambrosio, The Cap Times
greg zelek & thomas mesa After our first performance together back in 2019 and a solo performance of Dvořák’s Cello Concerto with the MSO, Thomas Mesa returns as we collaborate once again in a program of organ and cello music. Mr. Mesa and I will both perform works by women composers, such as Nadia Boulanger’s gorgeous Trois Pièces, as well as a solo cello work written for him by Spanish composer Andrea Casarrubios. We will close this exciting evening with a commissioned work written for the two of us, Daniel Ficarri’s Sonata in C minor for Organ and Cello, which was inspired by our first performance at Overture Hall. You won’t want to miss the world premiere of this incredible piece! — Greg Zelek Greg Zelek, Organ Thomas Mesa, Cello PRESENTING SPONSOR William Steffenhagen MAJOR SPONSOR Jane Hamblen and Robert F. Lemanske
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PROGRAM Jules Massenet, Méditation from Thaïs Nadia Boulanger, Trois Pièces Andrea Casarrubios, Seven J.S. Bach, Fugue in D major, BWV 532 Daniel Ficarri, Sonata for Organ and Cello (world premiere)
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. . . Tuesday’s Overture Concert Organ performance featuring organist Greg Zelek and cellist Thomas Mesa, two Juilliard buddies who put on the most enjoyable concert I have ever encountered. — Bill Wineke, Channel 3000
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This was our (and my 17-year-old daughter’s) first organ concert — simply put, AMAZING!!! The music was phenomenal. The pieces were intriguing and engaging. Greg’s on-stage presence is “so right” — a perfect balance of professionalism and endearing
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I love Greg’s ability to showcase the different tonal colors of the organ — both the grand sounds and the lush, colorful softer stops
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concert was just the right length — leaving us wanting more and
— MSO patron
left me looking forward to when can I go again?! — MSO patron
madisonsymphony.org/zelekmesa
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BECOME A FRIEND AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
Each season, many new individuals become Friends of the Overture Concert Organ by making gifts of support. Their generosity helps us cover the costs of ticketed and free concerts that so many people in our community enjoy, as well as tuning and maintenance of the instrument.
2022–2023 FRIENDS OF THE OVERTURE CONCERT ORGAN MEMBERSHIP LEVELS & BENEFITS Benefits are available during the concert season your gift supports.
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Becoming a Friend for the 2022–2023 Season is easy. Simply make a contribution on your subscription order form. Annual memberships start at just $35. Friends, at all levels, have access to exclusive benefits and opportunities throughout the season (view benefits shown on this page).
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$650 $1,000
Recognition in organ concert program books
Member benefits are subject to change. We will monitor and follow health guidelines and Overture Center for the Arts requirements throughout the season.
Special member communications Invitation to Showcasing the Organ events Invitation to FOCO Annual Meeting Recognition in MSO program books Two complimentary beverage vouchers
Ticket sales cover less than half of the costs of producing a season. To become a Friend, simply add your gift on the order form on page 10. Discover more about Friends of the Overture Concert Organ. Visit: madisonsymphony.org/foco
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Invitation to one organ post-concert reception Open invitation to all organ post-concert receptions Private, reserved parking for organ concerts and events* Invitation to a special member appreciation event Custom benefits according to your interests
*NOTE: The parking benefit has a fair market value of $35. The benefit will be available beginning in September 2022. If you already have reserved parking access, you may continue to use your existing pass for the 2022–2023 organ season.
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RENEWING SUBSCRIBERS, RESERVE YOUR SEATS OR REQUEST A CHANGE BY JULY 29, 2022 THE FINAL DAY TO RENEW OR BECOME A NEW SUBSCRIBER IS SEPTEMBER 16, 2022 SINGLE TICKETS GO ON SALE SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2022
Subscribe by phone: (608) 257-3734 Online: madisonsymphony.org/organ22-23 By mail or in-person: 222 W. Washington Ave. Suite 460 Madison, WI 53703
SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS SEATING Subscription seating change requests are addressed after the renewal period has ended. Changes depend upon nonrenewed seats of other subscribers. Please note that it is not always possible to accommodate your change requests. Changes are handled in order of your priority as determined by your past subscriptions and donations to the Madison Symphony Orchestra. You must renew by Friday, July 29, 2022, to maintain this priority. Your payment will be processed upon receipt of your order. This does not guarantee your first choice of seating. If you request seating that we are unable to accommodate due to lack of availability, we will call you to discuss alternatives or issue a refund upon request. Because availability is limited and subscribers have varying priority, we cannot guarantee your seats will be together if you have requested a change, or wish to be seated nearby or next to another subscriber. YOUR ORDER You will receive a confirmation of your order and ticket package before single tickets go on sale Saturday, August 27, 2022. There are no refunds on ticket orders. Overture Center is accessible to persons with physical disabilities. Please call the Overture Center Box Office at (608) 258-4141 for assistance. Children aged six and older are welcome at our concerts. TAKE NOTE We guarantee a refund for tickets to any program that cannot be performed for any reason. Programs, dates, and artists subject to change.
Love great music. Find it here.
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SU B C R IP TIO NS AVAIL AB LE THROU G H SEP TEM B ER 1 6, 20 22 Subscribe to all 4 performances and Save 20%! Single tickets go on sale Saturday, August 27, 2022. Discover more at madisonsymphony.org/organ22-23 Renewing subscribers take note. Renew your subscription by Friday July 29, 2022 to keep your seats or make a change.
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#madisonsymphony PHOTO CREDITS: cover, p1, p2 (Zelek), p6/7 (Mesa/Zelek), p8/9 (organ): Peter Rodgers; cover (Mesa): Lisa-Marie Mazzucco; cover/p5 (Chriss): Emily Gan; cover/p4 (Houlihan): Christian Steiner; cover/p7 (Ficarri): AJ Stetson; cover/p5 (Evans): Steve Schapiro; p12 (Overture Hall): Glenn Nagel Photography
(608) 257–3734 • madisonsymphony.org/organ 22-23
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222 W. Washington Ave. Suite 460 Madison, WI 53703
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SEASON SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAIL ABLE NOW! Subscribe to all 4 performances and Save 20%! ($80 for the full season) Single tickets go on sale Saturday, August 27, 2022. (all seats $25) Discover more at madisonsymphony.org/organ22-23
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It was delightful to hear Greg play the Mighty Klais in-person with an appreciative group in the audience. His musical selections were captivating and rapport with the audience heart warming. — MSO patron
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Greg is an amazing artist at the organ. His playing, his interpretations, and his arrangements are extraordinarily beautiful and exciting to hear. — MSO patron
Greg’s performances were spectacular. I loved his choices of music for the program. His repartee and comments between the pieces is so entertaining and I think really creates a sense of community between him and the audience. — MSO patron
Love great music. Find it here.